The Mercy Brown Bag Food Distribution Program distributes a grocery bag of nutritional food to low income seniors twice monthly. Bags consist of 10 - 15 items including bread, fresh produce, assorted canned foods and other items depending on availability. Registration for 2009 will be held on Thursday, January 8 at the Newark Community Center at 9 a.m.

If you participated last year, please bring your identification card with you. Low income seniors age 60+ are eligible to participate; monthly income limited to $1096 for a single person; $2192 for a household of two or more. Only one brown bag per household is allowed.

Those interested and who qualify should come at the time listed and bring a picture identification, driver's license or other identification with birth date and current address. Bring all sources of income for verification including: SSI, Social Security, Pension, etc. Anyone without picture identification and proof of income will not be registered or receive a bag on registration day. Registration at a later date is possible with proper documentation.

Bags are distributed to registered participants on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month at the Newark Community Center, 35501 Cedar Boulevard, in Newark. Distribution site may change during the months of July and August due to a summer program conflict at the Newark Community Center. Re-location information will be provided at a later date.

An annual voluntary contribution of $10 is requested. For more information please call the Newark Senior Center at (510) 578-4840.